Writing from the drivers seat - killing time with a sleepy child in the backseat

It's been a while since writing one of my life from the drivers seat posts, Opeie hasn't done much napping in the car recently and with Seth being off school we couldn't really be sitting around for hours anyhow, it wouldn't be fair on him. Today though after dropping Mrs M off at work, the plan was to pop over to nanny and grandads so they could see the boys. Opeie was exhausted and soon dropped off so when we got there Seth went in to entertain the excited grandparents and auntie Lotty, and me? well I have this quiet half an hour to blog away.

I cant believe that there's only a week or so of the summer holiday left, i don't know where the time has gone. Seth has Informed me that he doesn't feel ready to go back to school yet and also that he would prefer it if he had the weekdays off and the weekends for school. I'm not sure the government and education board would go for that but you never know it may be worth putting in writing. 

The school years go by so much quicker as a parent than I remember them going as a child. I don't remember all that much of infant and junior school, i have really hazy memory around that time apart from dressing up like a tea pot, Morris dancing in the playground, and marrying my girlfriend from age 8-11 in front of the school for our leavers assembly while parents sobbed. (it was a bizarre way to leave school at 11), that pretty much sums up my school life ages 5-11. It's no secret that I hated secondary school, I did the work but I never felt comfortable apart from when I was in my art class, it wasn't a great time for me. That being said I did have some fun friends and time outside of school was always filled with adventure.

It would be amazing being a child again and I always say how i'd love to see things through the boys eyes for just one day. I don't envy them having to go through school though and as a parent that has been through a crappy time at school i do worry that they will have a rough time too. If our situation had been different we would be home schooling the boys but sadly that's not an option.

It will be interesting to see how the boys turn out, they are having a great start and are kind well rounded children with parents that will back them up with anything they decide to do so i think they will be just fine.

You never see Spider-man going food shopping!!!

Going food shopping is grim! as my friend Chris put it tonight 'It's a chore'. It's not just the standing at the end of the checkout watching the final item getting swiped through and realising that you've spent 3 times what you had planned (although it add's to the experience) but more the aisle upon aisle of supermarket zombies walking around filling their trollies in a daze (that Includes me), there's something about walking through those doors that sends me into a trance and why is it I can never remember what I need? Even if we've written a list I still manage to forget something important like loo roll. Mrs M says I spend most of my time walking round with my head in the clouds, the supermarket just seems to magnify that.

Luckily today mine and Opeie's silent agreement has kicked in and he dropped off right before we arrived, Perfect timing. Thus leaving Mrs M to go in rather than me as she shops like a grown up and I'm more likely to hit the toy aisle and add a minifigure or two. well I have to add something to make the experience more exciting. If your a regular reader then you'll know that I love this time in the car to reflect, or in this case have a little man moan.

At least when we get home i can take advantage of all the goodies that Mrs M has picked up so at least that's something. Fingers crossed this is the last time we will have to come this week.  

Rant over...

"There is no friend as loyal as a book."

It's been a few weeks since my last 'waiting in the car post' so I was definitely due one. Mrs M needed to be somewhere so once we had dropped her off I parked up and got in the back to entertain Opeie while we waited. I usually take the iPad with me but it was dead from our journey last night (which I will be writing about later), so I was pleased to find some books in the side door. 

Opeie had been clutching two Miffy magnets which he had borrowed from the fridge and decided to take out for an adventure.

The magnets were the same size as the characters in the books so we read them and made up our own bits to include the Miffy magnets in the story. Lucky Miffy got to celebrate Christmas with Peppa and her family, play peek a boo in the night garden and go sledging with Boris Bear. 

I love how happy children get when you make effort and really take the time to interact with them.

Thankfully we were not waiting to long and after reading each of the books twice (changing the story of course), Mrs M was back and we headed home. So the conclusion to our activity is, Waiting in the car = a very happy Opeie, who's favourite part I think was the excitement over Miffy in the book and his magnet wearing the same dress! 

"Technology has to be invented or adopted."

Mrs M is getting her hair cut today so me and Opeie are again sitting in the car waiting. We just had to wake him up from his nap because we needed to go out so he was a little grumpy but he's ok now thanks to 'The Aquabats Super Show'. He's loving the show and so am I. I don't think it's aimed at children but the boys think its great.

I'd be lost without our iPad at times like this, makes me think how dependent we have become on technology (he says writing this post on his phone). I seem to see a lot of articles written regarding tv, computers, games consoles and children and they are all generally negative. Is it really that bad though as long as your children us these things on moderation? The boys have access to all of these things but they are not just shoved in front of them and left.

Seth has a stand in frame for physio to help straighten his back because of his muscle condition and we let him play Xbox while he is in there (gives me an excuse to play Lego Batman too, he needs a sidekick after all), it helps to keep him motivated to do his physio. The iPad comes in handy when we are out and about for opeie as he doesn't like being in the car to much. I used to hate long car journeys when I was younger and got irritable very quickly, its boring for passengers. an iPad back then would have been a godsend for both me and my parents.

If your the sort of parent that makes time to sit down and play with your child, do some craft and generally give them the attention they deserve then the occasional use of these items isn't bad at all plus the use of a computer will prepare them better at school, I was terrible at IT and have only started picking things up in the last few years

Well that's me done from the drivers seat again, i love getting the chance to write these short post's. Ill leave you now with a picture of Opeie with his new dummy looking like a proper English gentleman.

'The peugeot entertainment centre'

Again I am sitting in the car waiting, but this time I feel very privileged as Opeie is awake and sitting on my lap with a big smile on his face. Mrs M has had to go somewhere briefly, work related and myself and the little prince are waiting patiently.

We did try and get him down for a sleep but he was having none of it. Thankfully

I remembered to pick up the iPad and were watching Yo Gabba Gabba and having a sing and a dance. Hooray for modern technology. I used to watch a TV in the car when I was little and waiting for my mom to come out of work, only a portable TV back then was black and white and the size and shape of a Dr Martens boot box. Also most of the TV viewing was spent trying to angle the ariel in awkward positions to get the best reception (happy days).

Well Mrs M came back and we headed off although it wasn't long till i was waiting again and this time the little angel had gone to sleep so I think it's time for me to read some comics or play my DSH. I hope i don't sound negative about being in the car waiting. It does give me a chance to do the things I enjoy for a short period of time in nice quiet surroundings. I also love looking back into the mirror and seeing that beautiful boy of mine sleepy and peaceful, I'm a very lucky daddy.

'Watching a little more time pass by from the drivers seat'

Well here I am sitting in the car again waiting. Opeie is asleep and Mrs M is getting her hair cut and all I have to look at is a peach coloured garage door. I'm living the dream. I did pick my DS up to keep me occupied but i switched it on and it died. So glad i had my phone so i could at least write a post.

It's Seth's birthday this week which is very exciting. He's feeling a bit anxious though as we have told him we haven't got round to getting his presents yet (yes we're meanies). The truth is we've had Seth's birthday presents sorted for 2 months, we've also got all his Christmas presents sorted too, we're very well organised this year.

We offered Seth a party to celebrate but he said he just wants William to come over for a sleep over and he wants to go on an adventure somewhere so that's what we have planned.

It's crazy to think that another year has just flown by, and Seth has changed so much since being at school. Thankfully he is still the overly affectionate boy that he always has been. I think we'll all be upset when he inevitably stops asking for cuddles every 5 minutes.

I feel so lucky to have the boys and Mrs M in my life they really are my best friends. They are the three people I can always rely on. I would be lost without them. They can always rely on me to be there too but that's usually because i can be found in the car waiting patiently for them!